LOOKING FOR VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION NEAR CHICAGO?
HASSLE-FREE vinyl siding installation
Besides saving work, vinyl siding can save you money. It has been a popular choice for siding replacement in and around the Chicago, IL area.
Performance & Quality
This option stands out among all other options for the excellent value it offers. Vinyl siding is made from PVC, a rigid plastic material, and is securely affixed to your home’s exterior in a manner that allows it to expand and contract with changing temperatures.
The vinyl material is desirable because it repels water rather than absorbing it which means it lasts longer, doesn’t mold, resists mildew and moss growth, won’t warp easily and has a long life expectancy.
Vinyl siding is made to resemble wood and other natural elements so that homeowners can get the look they want without the cost and labor involved with these natural materials. It also yields an impressive performance and quality appeal all without requiring a lot of maintenance.
Aesthetics
- Vinyl comes in a range of styles, including horizontal and vertical panels and a wide range of colors
- Vinyl siding is available in a variety of textures, including wood shake/shingle style
Characteristics
- Commonly used as a retrofit siding, vinyl is often applied over old wood siding
- Proper installation is critical, or siding will warp or buckle
Maintenance
- Vinyl is very low-maintenance siding material. It never needs painting, as the color is solid through the material
- Limited warranties of up to 50 years are available on better quality products
MORE ABOUT Vinyl Siding
Even if you aren't sure you want to to put vinyl siding on your home, you've probably at least considered it. Why? For most homeowners, it means eliminating the hassle and expense of repainting their house every five years or so - or paying someone else to do it. Besides saving work, vinyl siding can save you money.
Advantages of Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding has become the most popular choice in siding. More than one-third of the exterior cladding installed on new and existing homes is vinyl. The balance is wood, aluminum, steel, brick or stucco.
If new siding is in your future, keep these three key considerations in mind when looking at the siding option:
- Vinyl siding isn’t for everyone; you have to like the way it looks on your house.
- Not all vinyl is created equal; you’ll need to learn how to pick a quality product.
- You’ll need a competent contractor. Proper installation is at least as important as product quality.
What Should I Look For in Vinyl Siding?
Typically they have a low-gloss finish that more closely resembles painted wood. Most manufacturers also offer realistic-looking grain patterns and have improved the look of trim pieces.
Fading and yellowing aren’t major concerns with better vinyl siding products, nor is their rigidity if they are correctly installed.
How Much Does it Cost?
Expect to pay $160 to $250 per square (100 square feet) for a quality vinyl siding product installed over rigid insulation.
Vinyl siding costs about 11 percent less than cedar siding, and 26 percent less than aluminum.
Common Concerns
Purists sneer at the idea of wrapping houses—particularly older homes that have significant architectural detail—in "plastic." Other common objections are that vinyl siding can't hold its color without fading or yellowing, that it buckles in the heat and that it can mask serious problems with moisture in the walls.
These were worthy concerns in the past, but vast improvements have been made in vinyl siding since it first appeared. Take a look at some of the new best vinyl siding products.
If you still aren't sure you like vinyl, see how it looks on other houses in your area. You'll know if it's vinyl by looking at the corners. With vinyl, cap strips on the inside and outside corners cover the edges of the panels; clapboard and shingles usually have mitered edges at the corners or a trim piece installed flush with the siding. Then ask a local realtor how vinyl affects home values in your area. It will probably have a positive effect on most houses.
Another caveat is vinyl's dubious ability to mask trouble beneath. Painted wood often peels or chips when there's a problem, but vinyl offers no such clues. Be sure leaks, moisture condensation problems and any structural defects have been addressed before the siding goes on.
What is the Best Vinyl Siding?
Technically polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the vinyl that's used in siding includes a number of additives that help it resist fading, protect it against ultraviolet rays and provide dozens of color choices. The color goes all the way through the material, so it can't flake off.
Vinyl siding comes in textured or smooth panels. Those with a simulated wood grain are meant to imitate rough-sawn wood that's been stained. Panels are available in horizontal and vertical configurations. Horizontal siding tends to look best on traditional houses, while vertical panels fit well with many contemporary designs.
There are also a number of widths. You'll find 8-in.-wide panels or panels that look like two 5-in. or three 3-in. courses of siding. Panels are complemented by vinyl soffit, window trim and other accessories.
Judging Quality Siding
Vinyl siding standards are covered by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard 3679. Any vinyl siding you buy should have this designation on product fact sheets and packaging.
This is a minimum standard, however. To pick a product that exceeds the minimum standard, follow these guidelines:
- Panels should be at least .040 in. thick; .042 to .045 is better. The ASTM standard requires only .035 in.
- Soffit panels should be about .05 in. thick. Because soffits are suspended horizontally and secured at the edges only, the extra thickness prevents panels from sagging.
- Look for anti-weathering protection - sunlight is deadly to raw vinyl. While the actual ingredients designed to keep vinyl from fading and degrading are proprietary, a common one is titanium oxide. You can also get an idea of a product's durability by asking the dealer or contractor to explain why and how it will resist weathering.
- The warranty is another clue to how weather resistant a product is. Few building products come with the long warranties offered by vinyl manufacturers. Fifty years is standard. Some products even come with a lifetime warranty that can be transferred to the next owner of your home. However, some warranties are prorated: The longer the siding lasts, the less the company will pay. Make sure you read the fine print. Some manufacturers only promise to recoat rather than merely replace damaged siding. And most warranties just pay for the product - not the labor for installation.
Get Started Today
There is no project too big or too small for our trained and experienced Skyline staff. The experts at Skyline Exteriors will take care of all your roofing, contracting and construction needs. Delivering exceptional service every step of the process from an inspection to an estimation and installation.
Our partnerships with the leading manufactures in the industry give our customers a wide range of styles, finishes, and affordability, as well as pertinent product information that allows homeowners to make a well-informed decision.
Services Provided
Aluminum Siding, Asphalt Shingle Roofing, Fiber Cement Siding, General Contracting, Gutter Installation, Gutter Repair, Home Remodeling, Metal Roofing, Siding Installation, Siding Repair, Slate Roofing, Vinyl Siding, Wood Siding
Areas We Serve
Barrington, Barrington Hills, Chicago, Cuba, Deer Park, Forest Lake, Fox River Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Inverness, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, North Barrington, Palatine, South Barrington, Tower Lake
